It seems each day brings more news related to homosexuality and Christian churches and organizations. Last week the Roman Catholic Bishop of Bismarck, North Dakota told parishes to sever their ties with the Boy Scouts of America over the national organization’s decision to allow homosexuals to serve as leaders. He wrote, “I regret my decision but, in conscience as the Chief Shepherd of the Diocese of Bismarck, I cannot permit our Catholic institutions to accept and participate directly or indirectly in any organization, which has policies and methods, which contradict the authoritative moral teachings of the Catholic Church.”

In recent days two Presbyterian denominations in Latin America, one in Brazil and the other in Peru, voted to end their affiliation with the American based Presbyterian Church, USA over the latter’s decisions to allow gay marriage and to ordain openly gay clergy.

On the surface it appears that homosexuality is the issue causing all this division. However to see the real issue, we must look a little deeper. What it all comes down to is one’s view of the Bible.

Those who believe in both the authority and veracity of God’s word accept it’s teaching about homosexual behavior being sinful. Those who have lower views of either the Bible’s authority or veracity are following the culture and changing their positions on homosexual behavior.

Because we have a very high view of Scripture, we are currently studying what Scripture teaches about homosexual behavior in a sermon series titled, “Homosexuality: A Biblical Response to A Changing Culture.”  As part of this study, we are examining what those who believe the Bible does not consider homosexual behavior as it is practiced today to be sinful say about the Bible passages that do call it a sin.

I concluded Sunday’s sermon with a challenge for us to study God’s word and do so in an accurate manner. II Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

This coming Sunday I will continue this teaching series.  To prepare yourself, please read Romans 1:16-32, I Corinthians 6:9-11, and I Timothy 1:8-11. If you missed either of the first two sermons in this series, I encourage you to watch or listen to them at www.fbcrockhill.org/messages.

Pastor Steve Hogg